Article by
Barbados Today

Published on
July 30, 2018

“I first want to assert clearly to the public that we are entirely innocent of all of the charges that have been brought and we have been charged with. I want to say clearly to you all that all of the evidence that they [police] have clearly supports our innocence.”

The proclamation made by drug accused businessman Charles Herbert of his innocence and that of fellow Goddard Enterprises director Chris Rogers immediately after they was released last Friday on bail following four and a half gruelling days in police custody, was as surprising as it was unusual.

Certainly we cannot point to any case in recent Barbadian memory in which an accused has spoken out publicly in this way, albeit in the form of an impromptu press conference, with a view to satisfying public opinion even though his case had yet to be tried in the court of law.

But then again, Mr Herbert and Mr Rogers’ case is anything but usual.

For starters, it is unheard of to have two prominent white businessmen hauled before the court on drug trafficking charges. This is not to say that only black people are involved in this illegal trade here or anywhere else for that matter, but it is certainly not reflected in the DNA of our prison population at Dodds.

The most recent study conducted by the Criminal Justice Research and Planning Unit has revealed that 98 per cent of those awaiting trial are male (black males no doubt) and two per cent female, with the majority said to be young people between the ages of 20 and 40, many of whom were already known to the court.

The study also shows that a quarter of 900-odd inmates at Dodds prison are incarcerated for guns or ammunition, almost as many as those jailed for murder.

Which begs the question of whose case is most urgently in need of judicial review? Mr Herbert’s or the hundreds who are presently cooped up in jail awaiting trial, but who were not even afforded the luxury of bail?

And what about the mother who is currently facing criminal charges as a result of an accident which claimed the life of her 11-year-old son? Does this not warrant urgent review?

No right thinking person wants anyone’s blood on their hands and certainly all are innocent until proven guilty.

Furthermore, it serves no useful purpose to have an innocent man or woman jailed, or for that matter, tried and convicted in the court of public opinion, but that does not mean burying our heads in the proverbial sand and pretending away that we do not know that a serious crime has been committed or that we do not know for certain who are the accused the police have been holding in custody.

In his eagerness to prove his own innocence, Mr Herbert would have sought to besmirch the professionalism of certain officials, as well as the media – Barbados TODAY no doubt included – over their handling of the fact that he and another director of Goddard Enterprises had been detained for nearly five days for questioning, along with a co-worker, after they were found on the company yacht, the Ecstasy, with 267 pounds of marijuana on board.

We have absolutely no apologies to make for doing our job in circumstances where we too were disappointed to learn that the head of our private sector and the head of what is arguably our biggest Barbadian-owned conglomerate has found himself in such an uncomfortable bind.

But if it is wrong for us to share this information with the public, then it is equally wrong for us to report on the proceedings before the court of any ordinary man or woman caught with a spliff.

Coming out of this latest incident, it is clear that as a society we still have a far way to go in terms of achieving racial harmony or parity.

And we will certainly not get there until we can perish this silly notion of there being one Barbados for the Medes and another for the Persians – or as Prime Minister Mia Mottley loves to say, two Barbadoses –as well as the utter stupidness which has become the subject of a meme over the past week that ‘the law system is like bleach; works perfect for whites but destroys colours’.

In the same way that black Barbadians are called to account for any perceived crimes, white Barbadians must expect the same, otherwise we will forever be caught in a vicious cycle of moral decay and social decadence, while some blatantly refuse to accept the folly of their ways.

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33 thoughts on “#BTEditorial – Justice must not only be done, but seen to be done for all”

Honey

I agree with the writer. It is indeed very unusual for an accused to be so vocal in proclaiming Innocence allbeit publicly. “press conference” wuh loss! Seems our Mr Herbert has taken a dose or two of salts.

Whosoever wrote this article.we are proud of your reasoning and your open mindedness.keep keeping on!!!always reporting the facts as their are don’t matter what or who.A very thought provoking article.A must read by all Barbadians.keep your head up and keep doing what you do best.

To me it was an intimidation to the laws of our country, he should have known better, his case is week and that public spectacle was also not the smartest thing to do.
We got the news as it was reported, three men got caught on a boat with narcotics, how are we supposed to interpret this. We cannot have a one sided law, either it’s for every Barbadian white , black or Chinese…. or tell what does the purpose of our law stands for, privilege and those who can pay bail?
If we are going to clean the Swamp, then let it be now.

Note: Blacks run the judicial system. Is that why the so-called whites feel they will not be treated fairly. Then if that’s true it confirms that race relations need to be addressed. As an educated people we are asking why the judicial system is willing to incarcerate our young black youths who by the way are often too poor to import these drugs. If in fact we have other races importing drugs and guns it may be their way of ridding posh Barbados of its black men. With all the black men behind bars, black women cannot reproduce. Dead black men cannot reproduce its called culling. So I say please keep on reporting. Do it fairly, all races, all issues. I say charge all races. Report the incidences in the press.

There is an urgent need to discuss race relations in Barbados. Jail cannot seem as if it is only for my fellow black men and women. This issue will one day explode in our faces if we do not level the playing field.

not because of their race or position in barbados but based on logic and probability.

people in powerful positions and with money dont traffic the drugs themself, they have someone arrange for someone who arranges for someone to actually traffic the drugs. this way it is extremely difficult to get at them unless enery person in the chain talks.

so therefor i must conclude that them being caught on a boat trying to smuggle drugs is improbable. it has to be someone else of maybe a set up.

herbert just helped bring down a government so he must have enemies. also he may have ruthless competitors who will profit from his downfall. or maybe he just horned the wrong guy.

Mr Herbert if you are innocent, then in fact you are making the statement that the drugs were planted on The Estacy after you docked, but we know that is not the case. Also, Mr Herbert if you knew that drugs were on the yatch why didn’t you act 1) throw the drugs over board 2) throw the person and the drugs off the yatch 3) alert authorities and your boss in Barbados before entering Barbados waters, 4) turn state’s witness – I would rather be known as a snitch for the rest of my life than as a drug dealer or king pin.
Your refusal to act is wrapped up in your arrogance and selfishness, which you put on display at the impromptu press conference. We learnt a lot about you then. Who you really are and therefore were not surprised to later learn that you will look after you. Unfortunately there was no place to run to and hide yourself this time around. Your selfishness( which you cannot blame on the news papers) was evident when you did not publicly say sorry to your wife, children, bosses, co-workers and friends. You did not say you regretted getting in trouble with the law. Perhaps you have had time to think about your overdue apology.

Mr. Herbert acted as ‘how dare you be critical of me!!!!??’ Well, let me say, I hope that he will take note of this article that gets to the heart of the matter at hand. No doubt Mr. Herbert expects the DPP, the police and us to cower after his bold and stupid ‘press statement’. Do you really think we are so stupid to fall for your silly logic?

White Bajan came here with their names and lack of culture. Black Bajans came with their names and culture and were force to accept the names of the plantation owners. Mr. Herbert, massa day dunn, dunn, dunn.

You have no conscience, to imply that you are innocent. You stupidly said if you were a passenger on a plane and someone was held for drugs, would you be held accountable: Duh!! Ignoramus B.S.! The Yacht is your yacht. You and the Captain had the authority to say who and/or what is on your yacht. DUH!!!!! Do your really think that we are stupid?

You, Mr. Herbert, have opened a can of worms that is soaking in a long, long trail of bleach and you have been happy; yes happy, to be walking around with that stupid smirk on your face, knowing that ‘the law system is like bleach; works perfect for whites but destroys colours’.

I hope the one who is left languishing at Her Majesty’s pleasure will have the good sense to grow some wings and start to sing.

We will follow the trail all the way to your day in court and see if the bleach has lost its potency and the worms are rotten.

With The white Bajan plantation class and their surrogates the Indian Muslims believing that Barbados belongs to them. They represent 3% of the Bajan population but control 97% of Bajan wealth. This can not be allowed to continue. We have to make way for our children, we owe it to our ancestors who suffered and died at these peoples hands.

We have a $700 million prison which was built by the Barbados Labour Party only to lock up BLACK PEOPLE.

BLACK people ARE always kept at the bottom of the heap no matter what. No matter how well qualified, talented, how right for the job.

We just pass 50 years of Independence with Black people being treated like something the dog dragged in. This must stop. The next 50 years of Independence must see Black people status uplifted in this country. The other races in Barbados are reaping all the sweets.

I think um is Mia that “sanction” the tip off to the police. Charles Herbert was likely getting to big for his britches having paid/play his part in her resounding victory- She wasn’t about to be the second PM that he attempted to rough up to get his way. Hartley Henry aint gine let a fella black or white mess wid his political baby. LOL!

@Kenneth King – “To me it was an intimidation to the laws of our country”
The man is just being natural. Naturally arrogant, naturally selfish, naturally self willed etc, etc. And I hope u lot with the swamp talk know that there is only black water/debris in it – not so called white.

@Yoyo – “Then if that’s true it confirms that race relations need to be addressed”.
How??? tell me.
And the education u mentioned is the MAJOR problem>>>> it LACKING big time. Just LOOK and see – step out the box. Focus on these 2 words, identity and assimilation. If u don’t see a problem then I can’t help ya.
what will sway this case heavily is Stockholm syndrome.

Now a big applause to this writer. This is the second good call out u lot did from BT. The first was on that b…. Bradshaw from the UK. Talking bs on sewage, instead of talking on injustice and reparations. All eyes will be on this checkerboard.

Nice one Alex. The USA CONSTITUTION has NEVER changed to accommodate blacks since slavery. Notice when a black person is killed by white/red person and there appears to be mutiny brewing, The authorities will tell black people in press conferences to calm down. No one ever says to white people “don’t kill black people”.

The issue of race in BIM (if there r any) cannot be tackled effectively due to the inherited mind set of many. Once the conversation arise, then come those defense sharp shooters (like neutrophils) with shield and buckler.

Race relationship in Barbados is practically good to many black Barbadians. B This is So because many black Barbadians do not believe racism exists in Barbados.And if it does black Barbadians are the perpetrators. White people in Barbados have nothing to fear and indeed they do not need to defend themselves,We black Barbadians do it for them. It very interested now that whites in Barbados are now under a little pressure this talk about all we are Barbadians and must work and live together for the benefit of this country is the call. Whites now seem a bit threatened that their affluent lifestyle could be under threat,they now want us blacks to understand them and support them. Barbados is a racist country and we blacks love it so

@David – Sweet. Absolutely love ur post. well this is what nearly 400yrs of brain washing and white washing does aka mind control. The motto of this majority in relation to the few is SERVE, PROTECT AND UPHOLD.

It might have been useful if you had indicted the specific grouse which Mr. Herbert had with the media coverage. Surely he would not be criticising you just for reporting the incident.

But the following comment really demonstrates the extent to which people are ready to convict without any knowledge of the evidence:

“Mr Herbert if you are innocent, then in fact you are making the statement that the drugs were planted on The Estacy after you docked, BUT WE KNOW THAT IS NOT THE CASE. Also, Mr Herbert if you knew that drugs were on the yacht why didn’t you act 1) throw the drugs over board 2) throw the person and the drugs off the yatch 3) alert authorities and your boss in Barbados before entering Barbados waters, 4) turn state’s witness”.

How did this writer know what is in the mind of the accused? Does he know who was in control of the boat up to when the accused joined? Does he know when the accused joined the boat? Does he know for a fact that the accused knew the drugs were on the boat?

I would wager that the answer to these questions are all in the negative; yet he behaves as though he has all of this evidence.

A KNOWN CONVICTED DRUG DEALER traveled on a BOAT own by a COMPANY along with TWO DIRECTORS of that SAME COMPANY…and DRUGS were found on the SAME BOAT.
IF those two were NOT in CONTROL,it would mean the one who is presently in jail WAS in control and how did he get to be in CONTROL ?…and who gave him permission ? and if so why did TWO DIRECTORS joined a boat CONTROLLED by a KNOWN and CONVICTED DRUG DEALER ?
The point is no matter how you look at it ALL THREE ARE GUILTY or NONE AT ALL.
The WORLD is watching but I would NOT be surprise if this case is thrown out for ” lack of evidence ” when ALL the EVIDENCE is/was THERE.. SURROUNDED BY WATER.

You have the gall to write an editorial on justice being seen to be done when you already convicted the 2 white men by showing only a picture of the 2 of them on your front page with the headline “Busted “ at the very outset one the news breaking of the investigation,
. shame on you. You clearly as a Newspaper have double standards! Print this in the name of journalism and freedom of expression. Doubt you have the journalistic fortitude to do so,!?